Honorary Citizen of Europe

The positive balance-sheet that can be drawn up at the end of this first stage, and on the eve of progress towards political unification, is something we owe in large measure to the boldness and breadth of vision of a handful of men.

Among them, Jean Monnet has played a leading role, whether as inspirer of the Schuman Plan, first president of the High Authority, or founder of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe.

In these various capacities, Jean Monnet has resolutely attacked the forces of inertia in Europe’s political and economic structure, with the aim of establishing a new type of relationship between States, making apparent their de facto solidarity and giving it institutional form.

[6] His acceptance of the demand by French president François Mitterrand to abandon the Deutsche Mark in exchange for France's support for reunification was instrumental in the adoption of the euro.

Deeply imbued with home values and marked by his youthful experiences during the war and in the post-war period, he remained steadfastly committed to the basic convictions acquired early in life.

Above all, his firm belief that ever closer economic and political union in Europe was a force for peace and that it was possible for his homeland to be reunified in that framework was vindicated by the epoch-making events of his term of office.